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I have 3 rigs with bases from open air cases.  I'm about to get another rig, is there any alternative to put my motherboard on?  I dont have the fancy cases I just need a base for now. Thanks

i would say wood or cardboard is pretty cheap

Ok just wasn't sure if that was ok to just lay it on there.

It's really not...paper/cardboard make good static generators.  I used square aluminum tube with standoffs.  Kinda hard to explain...I have no pics at the moment.

Paper may be a good static generator but plywood works just fine

Do you mean once the board is on cardboard, static can be generated ?

If it's stuck between wood and board I'd say it's pretty much grounded.  I don't think static would build up.

And now i got an answer to why a lot of fires start...

I insert plastic motherboard standoffs in the holes on the motherboard and then set it all on a sheet of mdf (wood) that covers the tabletop (which is vinyl and might melt).  The standoffs keep the actual circuit board from touching the sheet of wood.

These are the standoffs I use:  http://amzn.com/B00032Q31A (http://amzn.com/B00032Q31A?tag=ewalnet-20)

The MDF was something like $3 at home depot.

Well...there is a reason in production electronics paper is not allowed on the floor unless it is in static protective sleeves.  I prefer to stick with the precautions I was taught.  Paper, synthetic fabrics, hair and some plastics are well known static generators...its best to keep them away from anything with "MOS" in the name (static blows out the gate junction).

Also, static bags are conductive...I see a lot of people with their rigs running on static bags.  Good way to introduce high impedance (possibly low impedance) shorts.

+1

standoffs are a good idea because (1) they reduce the danger of shorting out MB components (in case of spills on the base, for example) and (2) improve dissipation of heat assuming there is at least some air flow between the MB and the base.

Whatever material you choose - make sure it's not conductive, and make sure it doesn't melt or burn easily. Most wood boards are probably treated with flame retardants.

Even if there are problems with your rig that might cause sparks, wood doesn't burn that easily. Your rig will fail first before the heat can ignite the wood. Unless you're also doing some electric welding nearby with sparks flying everywhere :D (who would do that next to sensitive hardware). If you're that fearful of fires, you can use well sanded hard wood (no tiny hair like strands protruding here and there), not those flimsy, soft, porous kind of wood. Also, dont polish it with lacquer.

I had a rig doing BOINC (Milkyway and DNETC on the GPUs, WCG on the CPU) on a 3/4" thick plywood running 24/7 for almost 3 years, didn't encounter any problem. I used ballpen housing cut into 1/2" each as standoffs and used ordinary 3/4" long wood screws to mount the board.

Ah standoffs seem like a great idea.  Just what I was wanting just didn't know they existed or what they were called.  Are they universal? will they fit in any motherboard, (or at least the popular mining motherboards?)

I would suggest wood also.

The plastic anti-static bags and all might get too hot.
Using wood as base for multiple GPU cards atm and works like a charm.

You think normal heat from a motherboard will set wood afire? Cardboard maybe, but wood?

Easy.  Follow what I laid out in this thread.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=27496.0 (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=27496.0)

Yes

i use metal standoffs and sit the board on the side of a pc case - best use of a case i have had for mining ;)
oh and short circuit? no more possible than using metal standoffs in a motherboard tray in a case-which is common practice

cardboard ignites at over 400F
If your rig gets that hot you got bigger problems than what you use as a base

STATIC GENERATORS

care to input some credibility to that claim
how does something laying static (without motion) generate STATIC

http://www.esda.org/fundamentalsP1.html

"An electrostatic charge also may be created on a material in other ways such as by induction, ion bombardment, or contact with another charged object. However, triboelectric charging is the most common."

Not saying that something laying without motion will generate it...I personally just go with what I was taught in the class and follow the same ESD precautions that I would use in electronics manufacturing.  Why take a risk with expensive hardware.

I took the polyethylene foam inserts from the Radeon boxes, cut them into little blocks about an inch high under each motherboard screw hole, and screwed them down using a drywall screw, into a plywood base. The trick is to put just enough tension on the screw to compress the foam blocks a little.

Works great, lots of airflow underneath, and it keeps the board solidly in place when changing out hardware.